Mahabharata 9.39.1663 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 1663

Ārṣṭiṣeṇa’s Siddhi and the Tīrtha-Boons; Sindhudvīpa–Devāpi Brāhmaṇya; Viśvāmitra’s Tapas Begins

Devanagari script

सर्वपापप्रशमन सिद्धिक्षेत्रमनुत्तमम्‌ । विप्रवर! उन्होंने मुनियोंके मुखसे यह महत्त्वपूर्ण बात सुनी कि “सरस्वतीका श्रेष्ठ तीर्थ जो औशनस नामसे विख्यात है

Transliteration

sarvapāpapraśamanaṃ siddhikṣetram anuttamam | vipravara! te munīnāṃ mukhāt etad mahattvaṃ śrutvā idaṃ prāhuḥ—“sarasvatyāḥ śreṣṭhaṃ tīrthaṃ yad auśanasa-nāmnā vikhyātaṃ, tat sarvapāpān nāśayati, paramam uttamaṃ ca siddhikṣetram” iti |

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «О лучший из брахманов! Они услышали из уст мудрецов эту весомую истину: “На реке Сарасвати есть высочайшая тиртха, прославленная именем Аушанаса. Она уничтожает все грехи и является непревзойдённым поприщем для обретения сиддхи — духовного совершенства”.»

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पाप: sin
• पाप: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रशमन: pacification/removal
• प्रशमन: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशमन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सिद्धि: accomplishment/perfection
• सिद्धि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षेत्रम्: field; sacred place
• क्षेत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed; supreme
• अनुत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Sarasvatī
• Auśanasa tīrtha
• munis (sages)
• vipravara (addressed Brahmin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that certain tīrthas, validated by the testimony of sages, are regarded as powerful means of moral purification (removal of pāpa) and as supportive environments for spiritual accomplishment (siddhi). Ethical renewal is linked to reverence, right guidance, and disciplined approach to sacred practice.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports a tradition heard from sages: a particular sacred ford on the Sarasvatī, called Auśanasa, is celebrated as supremely efficacious—capable of destroying sins and serving as an unsurpassed ‘field’ for attaining spiritual success.